Disability Design Reference Group

Breakthrough UK Ltd manage the highly successful, award winning, Disability Design Reference Group (DDRG) on behalf of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).

The DDRG was set up in 2008. It is made up of disabled individuals from across Greater Manchester who experience a wide range of disabling barriers.

DDRG members provide advice from their own lived experience, which assists TfGM to ensure that, as far as possible, an inclusive, barrier-free environment is developed across public transport and active travel in Greater Manchester.

The first locally controlled bus services launched in Greater Manchester in September 2023, alongside wide-ranging infrastructure developments for both active travel and public transport. The DDRG and its refreshed membership play a vital role in using its Greater Manchester voice to help design an inclusive Bee Network for the region.

Recent focus areas for DDRG have included being part of a working group to improve printed and digital customer information, attending a site visit to comment on the use of bus stop boarders and feeding back on plans for the future of Greater Manchester bus services.

In addition to attending four formal quarterly meetings a year, DDRG members contribute to ‘task and finish’ opportunities such as site-visits and reviewing sessions.

For further information on TfGM and the Bee Network, please visit TfGM’s website at www.tfgm.com.

For more information about the DDRG, please contact the DDRG Co-ordinator, Helen Clark by email h.clark@breakthrough-uk.co.uk or on 07706 733768

Please note: DDRG is a closed group which has been specifically recruited to reflect a range of disabilities and lived experiences and also a range of demographics such as postcode, gender and ethnicity. If a position on the panel does become available, it will be advertised.

DDRG and celebrating International Women’s Day 2024:

https://tfgm.com/international-womens-day

Introduction to the DDRG in British Sign Language